Firearm bolt mechanism for firing electric filament primed cartridges



June 14, 1966 L. B. GREGORY, JR

FIREARM BOLT MECHANISM FOR FIRING ELECTRIC FILAMENT PRIMED CARTRIDGES Filed Jan. 28, 1965 LEVERETTE 8.625 02% I BY musomj'munek fun: we,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,255,547 FIREARM BOLT MECHANISM FOR FIRING ELEC- TRIC FILAMENT PRIMED CARTRIDGES Leverette B. Gregory, Jr., Spring Grove, Va., assignor to Grego Incorporated, Petersburg, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Jan. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 428,769

9 Claims. (CI. 42-84) of the firearm which is connected to the firing device through lead wires extending and connecting to suitable contacts in the rear of the receiver assembly. These prior art structures have been found not to be entirely satisfactory in construction and performance, in that often the construction involves a complicated arrangement which affects the firing accuracy of the firearm. In such prior art devices, the Weight of the batteries in the stock normally alters the balance of the firearm, thereby impairing its performance. Furthermore, such structures are intended to be special purpose firearms adapted to fire only filament primed cartridges. Generally, there is no interchangeability of parts, which would permit either electric filament or percussion primed cartridges to be used with the firearm.

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide an improved firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges.

Another object of this invention is to provide a firearm adapted to fire electric filament primed cartridges, in which the weight distribution characteristics of the firearm do not alter the balance of the structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved firearm for firing electric filament primed cartridges, in which the cartridge ignition means is self contained and compact.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved firearm of the sliding bolt type, suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges.

Another object of this'invention is to provide an improved firearm of the sliding bolt type, suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges which can be converted with minimum modification for firing percussion primed cartridges.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel firing mechanism suitable for. use with firearms adapted to fire electric filament primed cartridges.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved firing mechanism suitable for use with firearms adapted to fire electric filament primed cartridges which is compact, self contained and which can be installed in conventional firearms without appreciably altering the weight distribution characteristics of the firearm tending to alter the balance of the firearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved firing mechanism suitable for use with a firearm of the sliding bolt type adapted to fire electric filament primed cartridges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved bolt assembly suitable for use with a firearm adapted to fire electric filament primed cartridges.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel bolt assembly suitable forfiring electric filament primed cartridges, which can be installed in conventional firearms of the sliding bolt type, with minimum additional modification to the firearm to convert the same from a percussion primed cartridge firing type to an electric filament primed cartridge type.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved bolt assembly suitable for use with firearms of the sliding bolt type adapted for firing electric filament primed cartridges, which has a compact and self contained ignition means, is simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons skilled in the art, in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, having portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1, illustrating the firing mechanism and bolt assembly; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged exploded view of the bolt assembly.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to a bolt assembly for a firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges, generally comprising a body member having a chamber, electric storage means disposed in the chamber, an electrode mounted in one end of the body member in electrical contact with the electric storage means and having a portion thereof exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge and means selectively engageable for grounding the electric storage means to apply a voltage to the electrode engageable with the primer of the cartridge. The invention further relates to a firing mechanism incorporating the bolt assembly and a firearm incorporating the firing mechanism including the bolt assembly.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention. Specifically, there is illustrated a firearm or weapon 10 including a stock 11, the firing mechanism 12 mounted on the stock, a cart-ridge magazine 13 mounted within the stock, and a barrel 14 mounted on the front end of the stock and connected to the firing mechanism. The firing mechanism 12 includes a receiver 15 embedded within the stock 11 and secured thereto by means of suitable bolts 16 and 17, a bolt assembly 18 mounted in the upper slot in the receiver and movable in alignment with the barrel, and a trigger assembly 19.

The magazine 13 is mounted in the stock below the boltslot and has a pair of end walls 20, 20 side walls 21, 21, a bottom Wall 22, a follower member 23 disposed between the end walls 20, 20 for supporting the electric filament primed cartridges 24 and a spring 25 interposed between the bottom wall 22 and the follower member 23, for urging the cartridges upwardly into the line of travel of the bolt assembly.

The bolt assembly 18 comprises an elongated bolt member 26 having locking lugs 27 and 28 receivable Within suitable recesses 29 and 30 disposed in the barrel receiving portion 31 of the receiver 15 and a bolt handle 32 which is employed to manipulate and slide the bolt longitudinally in alignment with the barrel to insert cartridges from the magazine 19 into the barrel and eject the shells of expended cartridges in the conventional manner of operation. The bolt 26 also is provided with a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore 33, having a forwardly disposed end wall 34 and an internally threaded rearwardly disposed opening 35. Disposed within the bore 23 are electric storage batteries 36 and 37 connected in series. The front end wall 34 of the bolt has an axial opening 38 which receives therethrough a mounting insert 39 consisting of a suitable insulator material, extending into the front end of the bore 36. Axially mounted within the mounting insert 39 is an electrically conducting rod or electrode 453 having a forwardly exposed end engageable with the primer 41 of a cartridge 42 disposed in firing position within the barrel 14 and a rearwardly exposed end engageable with a forwardly disposed contact terminal 43 on the electric storage battery 37. The electrode is maintained in positive engagement with the contact terminal 43 by means of a spring 44 interposed between the end wall 34 and a collar portion 45 of the insert 39, which urges the insert 39 toward the storage battery 37.

Threaded into the rearward opening of the bore 33 is a bolt plug 46 having a longitudinally opening 47 and a transverse opening 48 communicating with the opening 47. Mounted within the opening 47 in the bolt plug and extending into the bore 33 is a mounting insert 49. The mounting insert 49 carries an axially disposed electrically conducting rod or electrode 50 having the front end thereof extending sufficiently beyond the forward end of the insert to contact the rearwardly disposed contact terminal 51 of the storage battery 36. The electrode 50 is maintained in positive engagement with the contact terminal 51 by means of a spring 52 interposed between the bolt plug 46 and a collar portion 53 of the mounting insert 49. Threaded into the electrode 50 and extending through the opening 48 is a contact stud 54 having an enlarged exposed head portion 55 and being insulated from the bolt plug by means of an insulator sleeve 56. It will be appreciated that the springs 44 and 52 operate to urge the mounting insert members 39 and 49 toward each other and the electrodes 40 and 50 in positive engagement with the contact terminals 43 and 51 of the batteries 36 and 37, whereby when the bolt assembly is in the position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and the stud 56 is connected to ground, a voltage will be applied to the primer 41 to ignite the explosive charge in the cartridge 42 positioned within the barrel.

The trigger mechanism 19 is positioned rearwardly of the magazine 13 and below the bolt assembly 18. This mechanism includes a trigger housing 57 having a top wall 58, a bottom wall 59, a front end wall 60 and side walls 61, 61, a trigger member 62 mounted within the housing member and a trigger guard member 63 mounted on the bottom wall 19 of the housing. The trigger member 62 includes an arm portion 64 pivotally connected at its upper end to a lug 65 depending from the top wall 58 of the housing and having its lower end extending through an opening 66 in the bottom wall 59 of the housing and terminating in a curved finger engaging portion 67 disposed within the trigger guard 63. The trigger 62 also has an arm portion 68 extending substantially perpendicular to the arm portion 64, which is provided with an upwardly extending contact element 69 adapted to extend through an opening 70 in the top wall 58 of the trigger housing which substantially registers with the opening 48 in the bolt plug 46 when the bolt assembly is in the firing position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The contact element 69 is maintained out of engagement with the head portion 55 of the stud member 54, by means of a spring 71 interposed between the top wall 58 and the arm portion 68 of the trigger member. It will be appreciated that by moving the trigger rearwardly with the finger in the conventional firing manner, the trigger pivots about its pivotal axis so that the contact element 69 engages the head portion 55 of the contact stud 54 to ground the supply circuit for the primer 41 in the cartridge 42.

The embodiment as illustrated is adapted to fire electric filament primed cartridges similar to cartridge 42 illustrated in FIG. 2. The cartridge includes a shell 72, a projectile 73 mounted in the front end of the shell 72, an explosive charge 74 disposed within the shell, a primer 41, and a low resistance filament 75 embedded in the explosive charge 74 and interconnecting the primer 41 and the shell 72. It will be understood, however, that the invention is adapted for use with any similar electric filament primed 4 cartridge and is not limited to the type described for the purpose of illustration.

In the operation of the embodiment as described, the cartridges are first loaded in the magazine 13. The bolt assembly 18 is manipulated in the conventional manner of operating a bolt action type firearm to insert a cartridge from the magazine to a position in the barrel, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The bolt assembly 18 also is moved into the position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and is ready for firing. The cartridge 42 is fired by depressing the trigger 62 in the conventional manner, permitting the contact element 69 to connect the batteries 36 and 37 to ground. Upon grounding the batteries, a voltage is applied to the low resistance filament 75 through the primer 41 to ignite the F explosive charge 74. After the cartridge has been fired,

the bolt assembly 18 is retracted in the conventional mannor to eject the shell of the expended cartridge and to reload another cartridge from the magazine 13.

Any suitable type of electric storage means can be used with the bolt assembly, the only requirement being that it have a sufficient capacity to produce a voltage within a short period of time, to ignite the explosive charge in the cartridge. The mounting inserts 39 and 49 can be of any suitable insulator material, including such materials as Bakelite, plastic, neoprene, rubber, fiberglass and the like. Furthermore, it also would be possible to construct the bolt member 26 of an insulating material.

It will be appreciated that conventional sliding bolt type firearms generally constructed for firing percussion primed cartridges can be converted for firing electric filament primed cartridges by simply replacing the percussion bolt assemblies thereof with a bolt assembly similar to the assembly generally as described above, and modifying the trigger mechanism slightly to permit grounding of the electric storage means within the bolt assembly.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A bolt assembly for a firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising an elongated bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearwardly disposed terminals, an electrode mounted in one end of said bolt in electrical contact with the forwardly disposed terminal of said electric storage battery, insulated from said bolt, having a portion thereof exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge, a mounting insert consisting of an insulating material mounted in the opposite end of said bore, an electrode mounted in said mounting insert engageable with said rearwardly disposed terminal of said electric storage battery and said second mentioned electrode having means selectively engageable for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said electrode engageable with the primer of a cartridge.

2. A bolt assembly for a firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising an elongated bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore and closed ends, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rear wardly disposed contact terminals, inserts consisting of insulated material extending through openings in the closed ends of said bolt into said bore, one of said inserts having an electrode mounted therein having a portion thereof engageable with a contact terminal of said electric storage battery and another portion thereof exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge, the other of said inserts having an electrode having a portion thereof engageable with the other contact terminal of said electric storage means and another portion thereof exposed for selective engagement by means suitable for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said electrode engageable with the primer of a cartridge and biasing means mounted on said bolt for urging said inserts toward said electric storage battery whereby said electrodes are maintained in positive engagement with the contact termi nals of said electric storage battery.

3. A bolt assembly for a firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising an elongated bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore, said bolt having an end wall closing one end of said bore and an internally thereaded opposite end, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearwardly disposed contact terminals, said end wall of said bolt having an opening therethrough, a first mounting insert mounted in said opening,

of said end wall and extending into' said bore, said first mounting insert having an electrode rigidly mounted therein having one end engageable with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery and the opposite end thereof sufficiently exposed for engagement wtih the primer of a cartridge,biasing means interposed between said first mounting insert and said end wall of said bolt, urging said electrode mounted in said first mounting insert in positive engagement with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery, a bolt plug threadedly mounted in the threaded end of said bolt, said bolt plug having an opening therein, a second mounting insert consisting of an insulating material mounted in the opening of said bolt plug and extending into said bore, said second mounting insert having a second electrode rigidly mounted therein having one end engageable with the other contact terminal of said electric storage battery, biasing means interposed between said bolt plug and said second mounting insert for urging said second electrode in positive contact with the other contact terminal of said electric storage battery and said second electrode having means selectively engageable for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said first electrode engageable with the primer of said cartridge.

4. A mechanism for a firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising a receiver, a bolt assembly mounted on said receiver comprising an elongated bolt mounted for sliding movement on said receiver, said elongated bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearwardly disposed contact terminals, an electrode mounted in one end of said bolt in electrical contact with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery, insulated from said bolt, having a portion thereof exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge, a mounting insert consisting of an insulating material mounted in the opposite end of said bore, an electrode mounted in said mounting insert engageable with said rearwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery and said second mentioned electrode having means selectively engageable for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said electrode engageable with the primer of a cartridge and a trigger assembly mounted on said receiver, said trigger assembly comprising a housing member mounted on said receiver and a trigger member having a portion thereof engageable with said selectively engageable means of said bolt assembly for grounding said electric storage means.

5. A mechanism for a fire-arm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising a receiver, a bolt assembly mounted on said receiver comprising an elongated bolt mounted for sliding movement on said receiver, said bolt 'having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore and closed ends, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearwardly dispose-d contact terminals, inserts consisting of insulating material extending through openings in the closed ends of said bolt into said bore, one of said inserts having an electrode mounted therein having a portion thereof engageable with a contact terminal of said electric storage battery and another portion thereof exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge, the other of said inserts having an electrode having a portion thereof engageable with the other contact terminal of said electric storage means and another portion thereof exposed for selective engagement for grounding said electric storage battery to apply voltage to said electrode engageable with the primer of a cartridge and biasing means mounted on said bolt for urging said inserts toward said electric storage battery whereby said electrodes are maintained in positive engagement with the contact terminals of said electric storage battery and a trigger assembly mounted on said receiver, said trigger assembly comprising a housing mounted on said receiver and a trigger member having a portion thereof engageable with the selectively engageable exposed portion of the electrode of said other insert for grounding said electric storage means.

6. A mechanism for a firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising a receiver, a bolt assembly mounted on said receive-r comprising an elongated bolt mounted for sliding movement on said receiver, said elongated bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore, said bolt having an end wall closing one end of said bore and an internally threaded opposite end, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearwardly disposed contact terminals, said end wall of said bolt having an opening therethrough, a first mounting insert mounted in said opening of said end wall and extending into said bore, said first mounting insert having an electrode rigidly mounted therein having one end engageable with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery and the opposite end thereof sufficiently exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge, biasing means interposed between said first mounting insert and said end wall of said bolt urging said electrode mounted in said first mount-ing insert in positive engagement with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery, a bolt plug t hreadedly mounted in the threaded end of said bolt, said bolt plug having an opening therein, a second mounting insert consisting of an insulating material mounted in the opening of said bolt plug and extending into said bore, said second mounting insert having a second electrode rigidly mounted therein having one end engageable with the other contact terminal of said electric storage battery, biasing means interposed between said b'olt plug and said second mounting insert for urging said second electrode in positive contact with said other contact terminal of said electric storage battery and said second electrode having a portion thereof exposed for selective engagement for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said first electrode engageable with the primer of said cartridge and a trigger assembly on said receiver, said trigger assembly comprising a housing member mounted on said receiver adjacent said second mounting insert of said bolt assembly and a trigger member having a portion thereof engageable with the exposed portion of said second electrode of said bolt assembly for grounding said electric storage means.

7. A firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising a stock, a receiver mounted on said stock, a cartridge magazine mounted on said receiver, a barrel mounted on said stock and connected to said receiver, a bolt assembly mounted on said receiver cooperable with said cartridge magazine and said barrel for inserting cartridges from said magazine into said barrel and ejecting the shell of fired cartriges, said bolt assembly comprising an elongated bolt mounted for sliding movement on said receiver in alignment with said barrel, said bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearwardly disposed contact terminals, an electrode mounted in one end of said bolt in electrical contact with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery, insulated from said bolt, having a portion thereof exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge disposed in said barrel, a mounting insert consisting of an insulating material mounted in the opposite end of said bore, an electrode mounted in said mounting insert engagea-ble with said rearwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery and said second mentioned electrode having means selectively engageable for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said electrode engageable with the primer of a cartridge and a trigger assembly mounted on said receiver, said trigger assembly comprising a housing member mounted on said receiver and a trigger member mounted on said housing having a portion thereof engageable with said selectively engageable means of said bolt assembly for grounding said electric storage means.

8. A firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising a stock, a receiver mounted on said stock, a cartridge magazine mounted on said receiver, a barrel mounted on said stock and connected to said receiver, a bolt assembly mounted on said receiver cooperable with said cartridge magazine and said barrel for inserting cartridges from said magazine into said barrel and ejecting the shell of fired cartridges, said bolt assembly comprising an elongated bolt mounted for sliding movement on said receiver in alignment with said barrel, said elongated bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore and closed ends, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearwardly disposed contact terminals, inserts consisting of insulated material extending through openings in the closed ends of said bolt into said bore, one of said inserts having an electrode mounted therein having a portion thereof engageable with a contact terminal of said electric storage battery and another portion thereof exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge disposed in said barrel, the other of said inserts having an electrode having a portion thereof engageable with the other contact terminal of said electric storage means and another portion thereof exposed for selective engagement for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said electrode engageable with the primer of a cartridge disposed in said barrel and biasing means mounted on said bolt for urging said inserts toward said electric storage battery whereby said electrodes are maintained in positive engagement with the contact terminals of said electric storage battery and a trigger assembly mounted on said receiver, said trigger assembly comprising a housing member mounted on said receiver and a trigger member mounted in said housing having a port-ion thereof engageable with said selectively engageable portion of said second mentioned electrode for grounding said electric storage means.

9. A firearm suitable for firing electric filament primed cartridges comprising a stock, a receiver on said stock, a cartridge magazine mounted on said receiver, a barrel mounted on said stock and connected to said receiver, a bolt assembly mounted on said receiver cooperable with said cartridge magazine and said barrel for inserting cartridges from said magazine into said barrel and ejecting the shell of fired cartridges, said bolt assembly comprising an elongated bolt mounted for sliding movement on said receiver in alignment with said barrel, said elongated bolt having a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore, said bolt having an end wall closing one end of said bore and an internally threaded opposite end, at least one electric storage battery mounted in said bore having forwardly and rearward-ly disposed contact terminals, said end wall of said bolt having an opening therethrough, a first mounting insert mounted in said opening of said end wall and extending into said bore, said first mounting insert having an electrode rigidly mounted therein having one end engageable with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery and the opposite end thereof sufiiciently exposed for engagement with the primer of a cartridge disposed in said barrel, biasing means interposed between said first mounting insert and said end wall of said bolt urging said electrode mounted in said first mounting insert in positive engagement with the forwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery, a bolt plug threadedly mounted on the threaded end of said bolt, said bolt plug having an opening therein, a second mounting insert consisting of an insulating material mounted in the opening of said bolt plug an extending into said bore, said second mounting insert having a second electrode rigidly mounted therein having one end engageable with the rearwardly disposed contact terminal of said electric storage battery, biasing means interposed between said bolt plug and said second mounting insert for urging said second electrode in positive contact with the other contact terminal of said electric storage battery and said second electrode having an exposed portion thereof selectively eng-ageable for grounding said electric storage battery to apply a voltage to said first electrode engageable with the primer of a cartridge and a trigger assembly mounted on said receiver, said trigger assembly comprising a housing member mounted on said receiver adjacent the second mounting insert of said bolt assembly and a trigger member mounted in said housing having a portion thereof engageable with the exposed portion of said second electrode of said bolt assembly for grounding said electric storage means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 309,262 12/1884 Thompson 42-84 1,266,573 5/1918 Fleming 42-84 2,780,882 2/1957 Temple 42-84 2,957,391 10/1960 Lovercheck 42-84 X BENJAMIN A. BO RCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOLT ASSEMBLY FOR A FIREARM SUITABLE FOR FIRING ELECTRIC FILAMENT PRIMED CARTRIDGES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BOLT HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CYLINDRICAL BORE, AT LEAST ONE ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE HAVING FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY DISPOSED TERMINALS, AN ELECTRODE MOUNTED IN ONE END OF SAID BOLT IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE FORWARDLY DISPOSED TERMINAL OF SAID ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY, INSULATED FROM SAID BOLT, HAVING A PORTION THEREOF EXPOSED FOR ENGAGMENT WITH THE PRIMER OF A CARTRIDGE, A MOUNTING INSERT CONSISTING OF AN INSULATING MATERIAL MOUNTED IN THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BORE, AN ELECTRODE MOUNTED IN SAID MOUNTING INSERT ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID REARWARDLY DISPOSED TERMINAL OF SAID ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY AND SAID SECOND MENTIONED ELECTRODE HAVING MEANS SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE FOR GROUNDING SAID ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY TO APPLY A VOLTAGE TO SAID ELECTRODE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE PRIMER OF A CARTRIDGE. 